"He wasted no time," Golden said. "He raised the firearm up and started shooting through the windshield."

Herrera was staying at an apartment in the 200 block of Lake Monterey Circle in Boynton Beach. He was driving a silver Nissan Altima and had an unidentified woman with him when marshals tried to arrest him about 8 p.m.

But Herrera sped off, firing at them as he smashed into at least six parked cars, authorities said.

"He was shooting as he was driving backwards, and the cops just kept on shooting," said witness Kevin Phillips, 46. "I saw the cop's back and his gun drawn. He was emptying his clip."

At least 50 rounds were fired during the shootout and 11/2-mile chase before Herrera crashed into the gate of Crosspointe Elementary School on Congress Avenue. Marshals quickly captured him.

Both Herrera and the woman in the car, whose identity still hasn't been released, were hit in the exchange of gunfire and are recovering at Delray Medical Center, authorities said. No one else was inured.

"This subject is clearly a violent fugitive and extremely dangerous to the public," Golden said. "That's why he was targeted."

Herrera was wanted on charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.

Miami-Dade police said he was partying at a Hialeah strip club on July 22. About 5 a.m., he and some other people went to one man's home to continue partying.

There, Herrera demanded money from the victim, police said. Herrera punched him and a fight broke out, police said, ending with Herrera and four unknown men stabbing the victim in the back and robbing him of $20,000 in jewelry.

Herrera threatened to kill the victim if he called police, investigators said.

"We knew this guy was going to be armed again. We knew he had nothing to lose," Golden said. "After 14 years in prison, more than likely he wouldn't want to go back."

By Thursday evening, Herrera was not yet federally charged in the shooting.

Herrera, of Hialeah, was released from prison in December after serving 14 years for robbery, burglary, kidnapping and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, state records show. In April, Miramar police arrested him on charges of firearm theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Miami-Dade issued the warrant for Herrera on July 28 on the attempted murder and other charges.

A day after the shootout, neighbors in Boynton Beach still were in shock. They recalled seeing the Altima speeding down the street in the normally peaceful community, despite a blown tire. And bullets were flying.

"It sounded like we were in a war zone," said Melissa Hickok, 34. "Now I'm afraid to go outside with my children."

Neighbors recalled Herrera showing up in the past month or so, and has seen him walking his pitbull. There was a constant flow of people to and from his apartment, neighbors said.

"He looked like a gangster," said Phillips, one of the witnesses.

Ricardo Ranglin, 36, said he had just pulled out of his parking space Wednesday night when a bullet ripped through the rear of his car and into the console.

"It could have gone into my heart," Ranglin said. "I'm lucky to be alive."

He said he saw the Nissan zip by, followed by marshals firing at it.

"The U.S. Marshals were very unprofessional," Ranglin said. He said they hit his car during the chase. "They were here shooting like crazy."

Golden said the shooting is under a standard review and declined to comment further.

Anyone who would like to speak with the U.S. Marshals Service concerning damage to their property may call 561-655-1827 and speak with a supervisor.